Largo David Alves

In the beginning of the 18th century, Benedictine monks walked distances to take the "Baths of Póvoa", in search of iodine, considered invigorating, and cures for skin and bones problems throw sea and sun-baths.

By the 19th century, the popularity increased with people from the provinces of Minho, Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro that arrived by medical advice to cure several health problems, by breathing the air and diving in the rich iodine seawaters of Póvoa, in a popular movement that occurred in the European Atlantic coast since the 18th century, from Biarritz to Póvoa de Varzim.

The elite could listen to music, watch "flamenco" and "can-can" shows by Spanish dancers, tertulias and play roulette and other table games.

When he was in Póvoa he lived in the old Luso-Brazileiro Hotel, with the advantage of neighboring the Café Chinês saloon and, throw there, the streetcars passed in the way to the train station, it was in there he wrote part of his vast written works.

[2] Sir João de Castro in the Summer of 1893, suffering from melancholy and anemia comes to Póvoa by medical advice, he says that early in the evening he had supper between capitalists and proprietors and later went "had a cup of coffee in Chinês or the Luso-Brasileiro, with the eyes craved in the stage were a blind lady sang every night with nostalgic fainting."

The David one is not as luxurious as the one from Hotel de Itália, but suppresses in ornamentation; paper and furniture with Chinese style, ten tall mirrors, lusters, armchairs, statues, pictures.

"[3] The disappearance of the gambling saloons occurs at the time of the construction of Casino da Póvoa on February 28, 1930, in nearby Passeio Alegre square.